Braves knockout Rangers in 8U semis

Heber’s 8U Braves outscored the Rangers 2-1 in the first inning and held tight during four scoreless frames to stay alive in the Heber Springs City Tournament on Thursday.

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By Will Gilbert/Sports Editor

The Sun-Times - Heber Springs, AR

By Will Gilbert/Sports Editor

Posted Jun. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 29, 2012 at 11:52 AM

By Will Gilbert/Sports Editor

Posted Jun. 12, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 29, 2012 at 11:52 AM

Heber Springs, Ark.

Heber’s 8U Braves outscored the Rangers 2-1 in the first inning and held tight during four scoreless frames to stay alive in the Heber Springs City Tournament on Thursday.

The Braves advanced into the city championship round later that evening against the Cardinals. Needing two wins to emerge out of the loser’s bracket and capture the crown, the Braves fell 7-4 in the first title game as the Cardinals claimed the regular season and postseason championship without a second game.

In the top of the first inning of the Braves’ semifinal win, the Rangers snatched the lead when Brady Ingram laced a one-out double to left center and scored on an RBI triple from Garrison Brimhall, who found room down the left field line.

The Braves battled back in the bottom half as Zac Sweeten, Colton Turley and Trevor Bly each beat out infield singles before Ian Blackburn delivered a two-out, 2 RBI single up the middle, scoring Sweeten and Turley for a 2-1 lead, which ended as the final.

Ingram tired to stir up a rally for the Rangers in the top of the third with a two-out single but first baseman Henry Cowles took care of a grounder off the bat of Riley Duncan.

The Rangers dodged a one-out single from Turley in the bottom of the third as the game entered the fourth with the Braves still clinging to a 2-1 lead.

After the Rangers went down in order in the top half of the fourth, Ingram made a smooth play at shortstop, where he showed his fielding prowess all evening. Paxton Singleton momentarily kept the Braves’ at-bat alive by slamming a two-out double to center but a strikeout left the score at 2-1 through four.

The Braves retired the Rangers in order in the fifth and time expired with the Braves leading 2-1 and batting with two down in the bottom half.